Gun mount



Feb-4,1947; w. H. ITARDENNE Em.

GUN MOUNT Filed Nov. 14, 1942 ll Sheets-Sheet 1 7 Feb. 4, 1947.

w. H. DARDENNE ETAL 2,

emi MOUNT Filed Nov. 14, 1942 11 Sheets$heet 2 1947. w. H. DARDENNE ETAL2,415,340

GUN MOUNT Filed NOV. I4, 1942. 11 Sheets-Shed 3 w R'QM'M Feb. 4, 1947.

W. H. DARDENNE ETAL GUN MOUNT Filed Nov. 14, 1942 r m-mm l1 Sheets-Sheet4 16 awe/whom Feb. 4, 1947. w. H. DARDENNE ETAL ,4

GUN MOUNT Filed Nov. 14, 1942 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 I @QM W,

Feb. 4, 1947. w. H. DARDENNE ETAL. 2,415,349

sun MOUNT Filed Nov. '14, 1942 ll Shets-Sheet 6 1947. w. H. DARDENNEETAL 2,415,340

' GUN MOUNT Filed Nov. 14, 1942 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 g wua/rvbow 1947. w.H. DARDENNE k ETAL 2,415,340

GUN MOUNT v F iled Nov. 14, 1942 ll Sheefs-Shetfi 7' w. H. DARDENNE ETAL9 5 4 GUN MOUNT Fild Nov. 14, 1942 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 Feb. 4, 1947 w,D'ARDENNE ETAL 2,415,340

emi MOUNT Filed Nov. 14, 1942 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 WEBER 4e WE, ROBERT 44MAP;

Feb. 4, 1947. w. H. DARDENNE ET AL 2,415,340

GUN MOUNT Filed Nov. 14, 1942 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 gwucmfow mrui/rMomma/we, W/lll/IM .J. Milli/EL, WEBEF 661 0 Patented Feb. 4, 1947 GUNMOUNT Walter H. DArdenne, J enkintown Manor, William J. Meinel,Huntingdon Valley, Weber dc Vore, Horsham Township,

- Robert W. Wolf, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Heintz ManufacturingCompany, a corporation of Pennsylvania Montgomery County,

Application November 14, 1942, Serial No. 465,616

Claims.

This invention relates to mounts for machine guns, automatic lightcannon and similar armament.

The exigencies of the present war have presented a demand for mounts formachine guns and other comparatively light armament, which mounts, whileshielded, may be maneuvered manually over a considerable range within avery limited operating radius, and without power assistance. A highlydesired characteristic of mounts of this type is that they be simplydesigned as to be capable of quick and easy manufacture, with relativelyfew critical materials and with a minimum of machining operations. It isthe principal object of the invention to provide mounts possessing suchadvantages.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an armor shieldedmount which may .be easily trained manually through 360 in traverse, andelevated from minus 10 degrees to plus 80 degrees by body movements ofthe gunner, and which a gunner of average height can sight with ease atany elevation without the use of steps or platform.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gun mount for machineguns and the like wherein a shield is mounted to move in train andelevation with the gun and in which the shield carries means extendingrearwardly thereof and engaging the shoulders of the gunner so that thegun is pointed entirely by body movements of the gunner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gun mount of the typereferred to in the preceding paragraph in which equilibrating means areprovided for partially equilibrating the weight of the shield and gun soas to facilitate operation of the mount by the gunner.

Still another object is to provide a mount as referred to in the twopreceding paragraphs in which the shield is mounted so as always to bedisposed between the gunner and the target under fire.

A still further object of the invention relates to the provision of amount, which with a few simple operations and a single substituted partcan be adapted at the battle front for machine guns and light automaticcannon of diiferent types and calibers.

Another object is to provide a novel split ring and groove arrangementcooperating with the bearing assembly which supports a rotatable part ofthe mount.

An important feature of the invention resides in the provision of amount, the parts of which are so designed and disposed as to effect awellbalanced weapon while still permitting manipulation without power orpower assistance within an operating radius smaller than heretoforepossible in an armored mount.

The invention provides a shielded mount for both single and twin machineguns and the like.

These and many other objects of the invention will become more apparentfrom the following description and claims when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention shown asadapted for a single machine gun, normal, depressed and elevatedpositions of the gun being indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a rear plan view of the same embed-i.- ment of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the base, pedestal tube, showing in dottedlines the equilibrator spring and the means joining it to the connect,-ing rod.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal plan view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the upper portion of the structureshown in Fig. 4.

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are respectively side, end and top elevations of a castcarriage employed for supporting the gun cradle, and shield and partscarried thereby on the pedestal and base.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the binder shaft used in looking thesingle gun mount.

Fig. 11 is a sectional View of the cover plate for the carriage.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line I2--I2 of Fi 11.

Fig. 13 is a front view of the shield used in the single mountembodiment.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 but showing an embodimentof a mount for twin machine guns.

Fig. 15 is a rear elevation of the mount for twin guns shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of the modification of Figs. 14 and 15.

Fig. 17 is a top plan view of the carriage employed in the modificationof Figs. 14 and 16.

Fig. 18 is a front elevation of the same structure.

Fig. 19 is a side elevation of the same structure.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged detail, of a portion of Fig. 19 partially brokenaway.

Fig. 21 is a view of the locking binder shaft used with the twin gunmount.

Fig. 22 is a view of the same shaft turned 90.

Considering first the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1to 13, inclusive, the mount is comprised generally of a pedestal supportbase A, a carriage B, and a cradle C pivotally supported by thecarriage. The cradle carries an armor plate shield D, provided with asight opening and openings for the gun E supported by the cradle.

The upper part of the armor shield D carries adjustable shoulder bracesgenerally indicated by the reference character F. Suspended from thecradle C is in an adjustable seat strap G. In this embodiment, the frontand rear sights H and H respectively are supported directly on the gunE,

For purposes of illustration, the mount is shown as used with caliber.50 water-cooled machine gun of the Browning type, but as will be laterapparent, the mount with a few adjustments and substitution of parts canreadily be used with guns of other types.

The pedestal support-The pedestal support A is comprised of a base plate2 which is circular in form, and which for example, may advantageous lybe constructed of mild plate steel. The base plate 2 supports a centralupright pedestal tube G which is secured to the base plate 2 by weldingand by the strengthening ribs 6 welded to both tube and base plate. Torender the base plate and ribs as light in weight as feasible, holes 8and I0, respectively, may be cut in these parts. The base plate 2 isprovided also with holes l2 to permit the mount to be bolted to the deckof a ship or other support. Although the top of the pedestal tube iscovered against the weather, as will be described hereinafter, drainholes I4, M are provided at the base of the tube as well as in thecenter of the base plate. The pedestal tube 4 houses a powerful coilspring it (see Fig. 4) which acts as an equilibrator as will bedescribed.

The equilibrator spring H at its lower end bears against the uppersurface of the base plate 2 and at its upper end engages a two-pieceblock clamp 18 (Fig. 6), the lower piece 29 of which has a downwardlyprojecting tubular portion 22 of a diameter slightly less than the innerdiameter of the coil spring IS. The two pieces of the block clamp i9 areprovided with complementary semispherical cut cuts 24 and 25 so as toform a socket for the ball end 23 of a connecting rod 30 when the twopieces of the clamp block are secured together by the bolts 32.

The carriage.--Supported on the pedestal tube 4 is the carriage B whichadvantageously is a one piece, high strength casting, This casting isprovided with a central vertical bore of a diameter sufficient to permitthe carriage to slide downwardly on to the top portion of the pedestaltube 4 and to be capable of rotating thereon.

As seen from the enlarged detail views of the carriage (Figs. 7, 8 and9) the carriage is provided with a lateral upstanding arm 34, the upperend of which is provided with a transverse bearin opening 36 throughwhich a pivot pin 38 (Fig. 1), carried by the cradle C, passes toprovide a pivot point for the cradle and the parts carried thereby.

The carriage also is provided with an integral lug M having a threadedbore for receiving an adjustable stop member 42 which may be locked inadjusted position by the lock nut 44. The purpose of this stop willbeexplained later.

The body of the carriage is also provided with a transverse bore 46 inwhich is disposed a binder shaft 48 adapted to be actuated by thelocking handle 50 in a manner to be described.

The top of the carriage is covered by a plate assembly comprising aplate 52, bolted as at 54 to the top rim of the carriage, and a slidingplate 56. Plate 52 is provided with a transverse rectangular opening,the edges 58 of which are flanged, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, toengage complementary formed edges 69 on the sliding plate 56. Thesliding plate 56 is thus adapted to move with a reciprocating movementacross the top of the cover plate 52. As noted from Fig. 9, the slidingplate 56 is provided with a central opening62 for the connecting rod 39.

The arm 34 of the carriage (Fig. 7) also carries a shipping lock arm 64,pivoted at one end and notched at the other, and which, as will bedescribed, may be removed after the mount is assembed in battleposition.

The base of the carriage B is provided at its lower end with an integralstepped flange, the upper portion 56 of which has threaded openings inits under surface to receive bolts 68 used in securing the carriage onthe pedestal tube 4.

Fig. 4 illustrates the carriage B as assembled on the pedestal tube.This assembling is accomplished in the following manner. Referring toFig. 6 it will be noted that the upper part of the pedestal tube has aball bearing housing ring 79 secured thereto. The securing is effectedby employing a retainer ring 12 (similar to a piston ring). The housingring it! has an annular cutaway portion which, with the outer wall ofthe pedestal tube, forms an annular groove 14, in which ball bearingraces and balls 16 are disposed. '1Ig1ese are held in place by an upperretainer ring The housing 19 is provided with vertical threaded holes 89adjacent its outer periphery. When the carriage B is slid downwardlyover the top of the pedestal tube 4, it will come to rest on the housing10. The lower portion 82 of the stepped flange on the carriage willengage the ball races 76, while the upper portion 66 0f the steppedflange will engage the housing 10 directly so that the carriage may besecurely joined to the housing by passing the bolts 68 upwardly throughthe openings in the housing and turning them tightly in the steppedflange on the carusage.

The cradle.The cradle C employed may generally be of the type describedand illustrated in the patent to Frederick T, Moore, No. 1,708,232. Itconsists of two outer parallel plates 84 and 86. These plates aresecured in spaced relation by spacer tubes and bolts, such as thoseindicated by the reference numeral 83. The outer plates 84 and 86 aregenerally rectangular in shape with the rear portion having a downwardlyprojecting portion, the edge 92 of which is arcuate with respect to acenter point coincident with the pivot pin 36. The pivot pin 38 passesthrough both of these plates and through the opening 35 in the arm 34 ofthe carriage B and thus furnishes the means for pivotally supporting thecradle and the structure carried thereby on the carriage.

The cradle further includes two inner parallel plates 96 and 98 which inthis instance are rigid with the outer parallel cradle plates. The innerplates 96 and 98 are held in spaced relationship by bolts and spacers91, some of which, such as 99, pass through the outer plates as well tosecure the inner andouter plates rigidly together.

These inner plates each have a corresponding ward ends.

plates 84, 86 of the cradle.

upward projection I00 having aligned openings I02. The gun has a portionprovided with a transverse hole which portion is adapted to be disposedbetween said projections I00 so that a removable securing pin (notshown) may be passed through the openings I02 and the hole in the gun tosecure the gun in place. end of the inner plates 96 and 98 another pinopening I04 is similarly employed to secure the gun to these innerplates by a pin.

The outer plates of the cradle have a spent cartridge case deflector I06secured to their for- The cradle at its other end supports the removablestrap seat support G by means of the chains I08 hooked to the spool nutsIIO on the outer ends of the rear spacer tube and bolt 88 (see Fig. 2).The cradle C also supports and carries the armor plate shield D. Thisshield is generally of the shape shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 13. It issecured to the outer cradle plates 84 and 88 by means of the bolts I I2which join it to angle pieces II4 welded or otherwise rigid with theouter cradle plates.

The shield D is provided with an opening IIfi for the passage of the mm,and also large enough to permit the operator to engage the charging knobof the gun forwardly of the shield. This-- latter part of the opening isprotected from the front by a forwardly projecting armor plate handprotector I I8 welded to the shield proper.

Still further, the shield D is provided with two rearwardly projectingmembers I20 which, through the medium of the two-piece clamps I22,adjustably support the shoulder braces F.

Finally, the shield D at its lower inner surface has a sight ring caseI24 secured thereto for housing the front sight rin H when the mount istransported or stored.

The cradle and the shield should be considered as one sub-assembly.

As seen in the top plan view (Fig. 3), a trunnion block I26 is securedbetween the outer side This trunnion block is provided with a threadedopening I28 to receive the upper threaded end of the connecting rod 30(Fig. 4). The threaded end of the connecting rod, when the mount isassembled, ex-- tends upwardly into the threaded opening I28 in thetrunnion block I26 after which the jam nut I30 is turned until it abutsthe under surface of the trunnion block.

From the description given it should now be manifest that the cradle C,shield D and gun E, are all supported by the pedestal A through thecarriage B, and that movement of the cradle, shield and gun in elevation(as indicated in the upper broken lines in Fig. 1) occurs about thepivot point 38 when the operator, with his shoulders in the shoulderbraces F, raises or lowers his body.

It wil1 be apparent that movement of the gun and shield in elevation andtrain is accomplished substantially entirely by body movements of thegunner transmitted by the shoulder braces to the parts of the mountwhich move in train and elevation.

It should also be apparent that as downward movement occurs, aconsiderable portion of the weight of cradle, shield and gun is absorbedby the compression spring I6, which, as described, is connected throughthe connecting rod 30 to the cradle.

Movement in elevation may be effected from minus to plus 80".Advantageously, the cradle may be provided with a smal stop block I32 Atthe other.

welded or otherwise secured to the outer cradle plate 86 adjacent itslower edge. This stop block I32 strikes the adjustable stop 42 on thecarriage thus limiting downward movement to minus 10 and preventingdamage to 'cradle parts which otherwise would strike the carriage.

In describing the carriage B, reference has been made to a shipping lock64. This shipping look, when the mount is shipped, is in the positionshown in Fig. 2 in which its free notched end engages the spacer tube88, which holds the outer side plates of cradle in spaced relationshipat the rear. Naturally, before operating, this shipping lock must beremoved by tilting the cradle, shield and gun upwardly about the pivotpin 38 until the notched end of the shipping lock 64 is disengaged anddrops by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 7. During operation ofthe mount his best to remove the shipping lock 64 entirely, which iseasily accomplished by merely removing the bolt I34 (see Fig.7).

While in transit,.as well as during operation, the mount may be lockedin any of its positions, both in elevation and in traverse by operatingthe locking handle. Locking in any position of elevation is accomplishedby the clamping member I36 mounted loosely at the end of the bindershaft 48 inwardly of the locking handle 50, and which, when the handleis turned in one directionclamps against the outside surface of thecradle plate 86 adjacent the arcuate lower edge 92 (see Fig. 1).

The cradle, shield and gun, as indicated, are capable of rotary movementin traverse over 360 by reason of the mounting of the carriage on theball races 16 near the upper end of the pedestal. Looking in anyposition in traverse, is likewise accomplished by manually turning thelocking handle 53). The handle 58 is threaded on the end of the bindershaft 48. The binder shaft 48 passes tangentially through the carriage Bwith one end loosely engaged in a recess in the inner wall of thecarriage and the threaded handle end extending through an opening in thewall of the carriage B. As will be seen from Fig. 10, the binder shaft48 is a round rod, the central portion of which is provided with anarcuate cut-out I38 which fits around the upper circumferential surfaceof the pedestal tube 4 when the carriage B is mounted on the pedestaltube. By turning the locking handle 50 the binder shaft 48 is caused tomove lengthwise so that a portion of the surface of the arcuate cut-outengages and binds the pedestal tube. The more the locking handle isturned the greater is the binding action and the more effective is thelocking.

In this modification of the invention the front and rear gun sights Hand H respectively, are carried directly by the gun through the mediumof brackets. The front sight H is mounted on a bracket I2I which clampsaround the watercooled barrel of the gun E, while the rear sight H issupported on bracket I23 which may be removably bolted to the uppersurface of the gun at the rear.

From Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the line of the gun sights isdisposed in a slightly offset lateral direction with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the gun. An offset sight opening I50 is alsoprovided in the armor plate shield.

The outer side plate 84 of the cradle C, forwardly of the shield D (seeFig. 3), is provided with a bracket I 42 to receive an ammunition chest(not shown).

It is one of the desirable features of this mount that it can'beinstalled and'operated in'a greatly reduced base surface space. Forexample, on certain types of ships only a very limited deck space isavailable for additional armament for anti-aircraft purposes and theproblem is particularly acute with shielded mounts. The present mountadmirably solves this problem.

To meet these requirements, the cradle, shield and gun are disposedforwardly a much greater distance than heretofore believed feasible.This obviously throws the trunnion point farther to the rear of thecenter of gravity of the gun, cradle and shield. Ease of operation withthe present mount is effected, however, through the method of mountingthe cradle, shield and gun, as described, including as it does thecompression spring, and the connecting rod with ball and socketmounting. The compression spring I6 in the pedestal tube t and theconnecting rod arrangement do not, it is true, effect a true balance ofthe mount in all positions, but because of the manner in which thespring is disposed and operates, the mount is effectively operated byhavin the man-effort applied in the most advantageous manner when thespring deficiencies occur either in elevation or depression.

The compression spring also cannot automatically compensate for the lossof weight of the expended ammunition. However, the equilibrium of themount may be changed by adjusting the connecting rod with respect to thetrunnion block I23, to the choosing of the individual gunner. In anyevent the change in manload at any point as far as expenditure ofammunition is concerned, need not be more than about 35 pounds, which initself is not excessive.

The compression spring I B is adjusted by merely loosening the jam nutI39 on the connecting rod 3i then turning the rod (in one direction toincrease the spring load and in the other to decrease it), and finallytightening the jam nut again.

Reference has been made to a two-part cover for the carriage top, onepart of the cover COll'lprising slidable member with an opening throughwhich the connecting rod 39 extends. The sliding feature of the coverplate is necessary since upon elevation and depression of the cradle,shield and gun, the connecting rod transcribes a gyratory movement inone vertical plane.

Since movement of the mount when sighting is controlled by movement ofthe operator through the shoulder braces F, it is advantageous to havethe braces adjustable to suit various operators. To this end the membersI29 protruding rearwardly from the shield have round shank portionsengaged by the upper halves of the two-piece clamp |22 Mount for twinguns A modified form of the invention as adapted for mounting twinmachine guns and the like is illustrated in Figures 14 to 29 inclusive.This embodiment of the invention possesses many similarities to theembodiment just described. As in the first embodiment, the mount iscomprised of a pedestal support A, a carriage B, a cradle assembly Cwhich supports twin machine guns E and E", an armor plate shield D,shoulder braces F carried by the shield, an adjustable seat strap G, andfront and rear sights H and H.

The pedestal support A, the shoulder braces F, and the adjustable seatstrap G may be identical with the pedestal support A, shoulder bracesand seat strapG of the single gun mount embodiine'nt previously"described; -However,-inview of the fact that the mount supports twomachine guns E and E, it is "obviously necessary to have a twincradle'stru'cture C diirering from the single cradle structure C of thefirst -embodiment, and, furthermore, to support such a cradle structure,a carriage B, differing from the carriage B of the first embodiment, isrequired. Still further, the shield D of the twin gun mount obviouslypossesses openings of different sizes and shapes than the armor shieldof the single mount. Finally, the sights on the twin gun mount insteadof being mounted directly on the gun, 'as in the first em bodiment, arein this instance mounted directly on the shield.

These diiierences in the twin mount, as compared to the single, will nowbe described in greater detail.

The twin carriage B.-I-he carriage in the twin gun mount has a centralbody portion similar to that of the carriage B in the single mount, butinstead of one laterally upstanding arm such as 34 of the single mount,the twin carriage B has two upstanding arms 252 and 26 5 providedrespectively with transverse aligned openings 26S and 205 adapted toreceive pivot or trunnion pins 288, 208 which pass through the cradleplates as will be described hereinafter. As in the single mount, thebody portion has a projection 2H) with an adjustable stop screw 252which may be locked in adjusted position by the locked nut 2E4.

As shown in Figures 1'7 and 18 particularly, the body of the carriage Band the base of the upstanding arms 2E2 and 2% are provided with atransverseopening for a binder shaft 2H; which shaft performs 1e samefunction as the binder shaft 48 illustrated in Figure 10 in connectionwith the first embodiment. However, the binder shaft 2 E6 is longer andhas threaded portions at each end.

The binder shaft 2E5 is disposed within the transverse opening andextends from both ends. Clamping blocks 2 i8 and 2m are disposed looselyover each end and at one end the bolts 22!] and 222 are then placed inposition. On the other end a locking handle 22 i is threaded on thebinder shaft 256 and is prevented from coming off by a locking nut 226.

Differing further from the carriage B of the first modification, thecarriage B of the twin gun mount embodiment has two spring cushionedshock absorbers 228 and 228 in the base of the arms 202 and 264. Theseshock absorbers are each provided with an inner integral shaft 238, theend of which is threaded. They are disposed in recesses such as 232 (seeFig. 20) Springs such as 234 are disposed in the recesses 232 on theshaft portion 235. The threaded end of each shaft 239 extends inwardlyto a transverse opening 236 so that a securing nut 238 may be threadedthereon. When the mount is assembled in operation, the shock-absorbers228 take up the jarring caused by tilting of the mount rearwardly toofar and thus prevent the cradle from injuring the carriage. A shippinglock 245 is provided which is similar to, and serves the same purpose,as the shipping lock 64 of the first embodiment. In other respects thecarriage B is similar to the carriage B used with the single gun mount.

This description and illustration of the invention has been given by wayof example. It is manifest that changes may be made in the structure andarrangement of the parts without departing from the' inventive concepts.Conseuently the invention is not limited except as indicated in theclaims which rouow.

9 We claim:

1. A gun mount for machine guns and the like pointed entirely by bodymovements of the operator, comprising, a gun cradle, a support forsaidcradle, means for mounting said cradle on said support for rotarymovement about a vertical axis and for pivoting movement in a verticalplane about a horizontal axis spaced rearwardly at all times from saidvertical axis, means carried by said cradle for supporting a un thereonintermediate of the gun but with the center of gravity of the gundisposed forwardly of said vertical axis, and equilibrating meansdisposed in said vertical axis and carried by said support andpositively fixed to said cradle.

2. A gun mount, for machine guns and the like pointed entirely by bodymovements of the operator, comprising, a vertical tubular support, a gunsupporting member, means for mounting said member on said tubularsupport for rotary movement about the vertical axis of said support andfor pivoting movement about a horizontal axis spaced rearwardly at alltimes from said vertical axis and in a vertical plane including saidvertical axis, said gun supporting member when in horizontal positionhaving means for supporting a gun intermediate of the gun but with thecenter of gravity of the gun normally disposed forwardly of saidvertical axis and in said vertical plane, equilibrating means disposedwithin said tubular support and means threadedly connecting saidequilibrating means and said gun supporting member, the latter at apoint in said vertical plane forwardly of said horizontal axis.

3. A gun mount for machine guns and the like pointed entirely by bodymovements of the operator, comprising, a vertical tubular support, a gunsupporting member, means for mounting said member on said tubularsupport for rotary movement about the vertical axis of said support andfor pivoting movement about a horizontal axis spaced rearwardly at alltimes from said vertical axis and in a vertical plane including saidvertical axis, said gun supporting member when in horizontal positionhaving means for supporting a gun intermediate of the gun but with thecenter of gravity of the gun normally disposed forwardly of saidvertical axis and in said vertical plane, a protective shield carried bysaid gun supporting member, the lower portion of said shield beingdisposed forwardly of said tubular support and the upper portion beingdisposed rearwardly of said tubular support, and equilibrating meansdisposed Within said tubular support and threadedly fixed to said gunsupporting member partially to equilibrate the weight of said shield andmember, the lower portion of said shield being disposed forwardly ofsaid tubular support and the upper portion being disposed rearwardly ofsaid tubular support, rearwardly extending gunners shoulder bracescarried by the upper portion of said protective shield and extendingunder the gunners armpits and above his shoulders, said shoulder bracesbeing constructed and arranged so that the mount is swung in traverseand moved in elevation solely through bodily movement of the gunner, andequilibrating means disposed within said tubular support and fixed tosaid gun supporting member partially to equilibrate the weight of saidshield and gun, the point of fixation of said equilibrating means tosaid gun supporting member being at a point in said vertical planeforward of said horizontal axis.

5. A gun mount for machine guns and the like pointed entirely by bodymovements of the operator, comprising, a gun cradle, a support for saidcradle, means for mounting said cradle on said support for rotarymovement about a vertical axis and for pivoting movement in a verticalplane about a horizontal axis spaced rearwardly at all times from saidvertical axis, means on said cradle for supporting a pair of gunsintermediate their ends with their longitudinal axes spacedequidistantly from and parallel to said vertical plane and with thecenters of gravity of said'guns forwardly of said vertical axis, andequilibrating means carried by said support and fixedly connected tosaid cradle.

6. A gun mount for machine guns and the like pointed entirely by bodymovements of the gunner, comprising, a vertical support, means formounting a gun intermediate its ends on said support for pivotingmovement, a body protecting armor shield secured to said mounting meansto swing with the gun in all its positions of pivoting movement, andpointing means mounted on and extending rearwardly of the shield andengun, the threaded fixation of said equilibrating means to said gunsupporting member being at a point in said vertical plane forward ofsaid horizontal axis.

4. A gun mount for machine guns and the like comprising, a verticaltubular support, a gun supporting member, means for mounting said memberon said tubular support for rotary movement about the vertical axis ofsaid support and for pivoting movement about a horizontal axis spacedrearwardly at all times from said vertical axis and in a vertical planeincluding said vertical axis, said gun supporting member when inhorizontal position having means for supporting a gun intermediate ofthe gun but with the center of gravity of the gun normally disposedforwardly of said vertical axis and in said vertical plane, a protectiveshield carried by said gun supporting gaging the shoulders of thegunner, said pointing means being so constructed and arranged that bodymovements of the gunner elfect pivoting movements of said shield andthereby of said mounting means.

7. A gun mount for machine guns and the like pointed entirely by bodymovements of the gunner, comprisin a vertical support, means formounting at least one gun intermediate its ends on said support forpivoting movement in two directions at right angles to each other, abody protecting armor shield secured to said mounting means to swingwith the gun in all positions of its pivoting movement so as to bedisposed between the gunner and the target under fire, and means mountedon and extending rearwardly of the shield and engaged by body portionsof the gunner and so constructed and arranged that body movements of thegunner efiect pivoting movements of said shield and thereby of saidmounting means.

8. A gun mount for machine guns and the like pointed entirely by bodymovements of the gunner, comprising, an upright pedestal support, a guncradle mounted on said support for rotary movement in a horizontal planeand for pivoting movement in a vertical plane, means in said cradle formounting a gun intermediate its ends, a body protecting armor shieldsecured rigidly with said cradle to swing with the gun in all itspositions of pivoting movement so as to be disposed between the gunnerand the target under fire, and means carried by the shield and extendingrearwardly therefrom for engaging the-shouL ders of the gunner, saidlast mentioned means being so constructed and arranged that bodymovements of the gunner effect pivoting movements of said shield andthereby of the gun cradle and gun.

9. A gun mount for machine guns and the like pointed entirely by bodymovements of the operator, comprising a base support including anupright tubular member having circumferential grooves therein, a guncradle, means for supporting said cradle on said tubular member forrotary movement thereabout and for vertical pivoting movement about ahorizontal axis spaced rearwardly at all times from the longitudinalaxis of said tubular member, said gun cradle having means for supportinga, gun intermediate of its ends and with the center of gravity of thegun disposed forwardly of said horizontal axis, and equilibrating meanscarried by said tubular member and connected to said cradle at a pointforwardly of said horizontal axis, said means for supporting said cradleon said tubular member comprising split rings disposed in saidcircumferential grooves in said tubular member, a bearing assemblysupported by said rings, and a body having a cylindrical boretherethrough and rotatably supported on the upper end of said tubularmember by said bearing assembly.

10. A gun mount for machine guns and the like pointed entirely by bodymovements of the operator, comprising a base support including anupright tubular member having circumferential grooves therein, a guncradle, means for supporting said cradle on said tubular member forrotary movement thereabout and for vertical pivoting movement about ahorizontal axis spaced rearwardly at all times from the longitudinalaxis of said tubular member, said gun cradle having means for supportinga gun intermediate of its ends and With the center of gravity of the gundisposed forwardly of said horizontal axis, and equilibrating meanscarried by said tubular member and connected to said cradle at a pointforwardly of said horizontal axis, said means for supporting said cradleon said tubular member comprising split rings disposed in saidcircumferential grooves in said tubular member, a bearing assemblysupported by said rings, and a body having a cylindrical boretherethrough and rotatably supported on the upper end of said tubularmember by said bearing assembly, said body having an upstanding offsetarm, and pivot means carried by said arm for supporting said cradle forsaid pivoting movement about said horizontal axis.

WALTER H. DARDENNE. WILLIAM J. MEINEL, WEBER DE VORE. ROBERT W. WOLF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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